From Publishers Weekly
Lots of smooth, wiseacre talk powers this agreeable caper past two major shortcomings: a near-overpowering intro section and a woefully underdeveloped big-scam ending that falls seriously flat. Freelance sleuth Leo Waterman memorably rescues a teenage girl from the Seattle streets, then heads deeper into the state of Washington to hang out with J.D. Springer, a fisherman pal. J.D. and his family have bought a place close to Native American land. He's made several enemies among the surly locals by denying them all fishing, hunting and boating rights. Soon J.D. is a charred corpse at the bottom of a hill, his cabin is burned out and his family has fled. Leo's initial inquiries lead to a car crash and copious injuries to both himself and Rebecca, his forensic pathologist girlfriend. All but abandoned by the more sensible Rebecca, Leo assembles a ragtag collection of career criminals for a projected megascam to root out the villains. The scam is barely under way before Leo incurs the wrath of the local cops and embarks on a romance with a wealthy local woman. Kindhearted, street smart and fast-mouthed, Leo possesses more than enough panache and personality to carry this slick yet slight work. Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Seattle private investigator Leo Waterman travels with girlfriend Rebecca to a friend's place in the Pacific Northwest rainforest. Unfortunately for the friend, local residents become murderously angry over his no-trespassing signs. A solidly entertaining series addition. Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Washington Post Book World
"The most likeable private eye to make the scene since Travis McGee...If G. M. Ford writes five more years' worth of Leo Waterman novels, I'll be happy to read every one of them."

From Booklist
Seattle sleuth Leo Waterman assembles a truly motley crew--not only his familiar down-at-the-heels "boys" but also a perverted forger, a crippled wireman, a high-priced call girl, a gay burglar, and a couple of legbreakers--to get to the bottom of what happened to a friend in Stevens Falls, Washington. The friend bought a prime piece of property along a premier salmon and steelhead stream to pursue his dream of operating a fishing camp, only to wind up burned beyond recognition in a suspicious car accident that the authorities insist on calling suicide. Waterman and his longtime girlfriend, Rebecca, very nearly meet a similar end before Waterman calls in his reinforcements and declares war on the town's corrupt officials. The sixth of Ford's Leo Waterman mysteries has all of the enticements of its predecessors: intricate plotting, wonderfully specific locales, and a wealth of wisecracks from one of the most engaging private eyes in all of mysterydom. Ford fans will not be disappointed. Dennis Dodge

From Kirkus Reviews
A case of arrested development, says forensic pathologist Rebecca Duvall of her friend/lover/colleague Seattle shamus Leo Waterman. Just another, albeit larger, version of Peter Pan, she maintains, adding that what she wants in her bed, in her life, is a grown-up. Leo, being Leowhich is to say smart, sensitive, though unquestionably stubbornsees her point, but is not about to schedule a makeover. Anyway, it's all trauma-induced, a sympathetic friend tells Leototally predictable in the aftermath of the smash-up. There they were in backwater Stevens Falls, a tiny island off the Atlantic coast, sort of nosing into the untimely death of a friendnot really serious about investigating, not much more than mildly curiouswhen a couple of very large trucks sandwiched their very small car. With malice aforethought. With broken bones (for Rebecca), stitches galore (for Leo), and hospitalization (for both) as the scary result. Message received, Rebecca says, and wants to call it quits. Whatever the secret of Stevens Falls is, the sensible thing, the adult thing to do is let it remain buried. But Leo, being Leo, can't operate that way. He has to know what's rotten in Stevens Falls. And, just as much to the point (for Leo), he has to generate payback. The thinnish secret takes too long to unwrap, but tough, funny Leo (Last Ditch, 1999, etc.) is worth the price as usual. Rebecca, be advisedLeo's the gumshoe to stick to. -- Copyright ©2000, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.


"If G.M.Ford writes five more years' worth of Leo Waterman novels, I'll be happy to read every one of them."


"Unique, qurky, and sometimes hilarious...Incisively written and thought-provoking...Waterman is single-minded, appealing, insightful, and tougher than a chain restaurant steak."


"G.M. Ford is well on his way to becoming the Raymond Chandler of Seattle."

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Seattle p.i. Leo Waterman isn't looking for trouble when he and his forensic pathologist girlfriend Rebecca escape into the Washington wilder for a few days of relaxation — it just seems to find him. An old friend has purchased some choice property here in North America's only rain forest and his posting of "No Trespassing" signs has incurred the wrath of every sportsman for miles around. But what starts as irksome harassment by the offended locals soon escalates into the real of the lethal. And it's just Waterman's luck to be in the epicenter of this murderous mess at the very moment it bursts into flames.

SYNOPSIS

Leo isn't looking for trouble when he and Rebecca escape into the wilderness for a few days of isolation and relaxation—it just seems to find him. An old friend has purchased some choice property in North America's only rainforest, and his posting of No Trespassing signs has incurred the wrath of every boater, hunter, and fisherman for miles around. What starts as irksome harassment by the offended locals—evil looks and random acts of vandalism—escalates quite quickly, however, into the realm of the lethal. And it's just Waterman's luck to be in the epicenter of this murderous mess at the very moment it bursts into flames.

When an ever-increasing body count is met with bland indifference by the local authorities, Leo realizes it's time to summon together a ragtag surveillance team from all walks of his life. And with a little help from his "residentially challenged" legmen—those "Boys" back in Seattle—Leo's determined to staunch the flow of blood that's despoiling an unspoiled land...while getting to the twisted roots of a homicidal greed that now has his whole motley crew marked for death.

If you've never met Leo Waterman, or wandered into his world, start right here. If you've previously experienced the tense and terrific fun of G. M. Ford, hang on and enjoy—because the boys are back in town!

FROM THE CRITICS

Cleveland Plain Dealer

Unique, quirky, and sometimes hilarious...incisively written and thought-provoking...Waterman is single-minded, appealing, insightful, and tougher than a chain restaurant steak.

Washington Post Book World

If G.M. Ford writes five more years' worth of Leo Waterman novels, I'll be happy to read every one of them.

Library Journal

Seattle private investigator Leo Waterman travels with girlfriend Rebecca to a friend's place in the Pacific Northwest rainforest. Unfortunately for the friend, local residents become murderously angry over his no-trespassing signs. A solidly entertaining series addition. Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING